Beasley struggles in loss

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The yin and yang of Michael Beasley was on full display at Spectrum Center in Monday’s 109-91 loss to the awful Hornets.

With Kristaps Porzingis sitting out with a sore left knee, Beasley was thrust into the starting lineup again as starting power forward but wasn’t the hero this time.

While he piled up a teamhigh 23 points, he committed four turnovers, was a team-high minus-16 and played matador defense much of the night. He failed to cover Frank Kaminsky at the 3-point line and let other forwards drive past him with ease.

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has been highly complimentary of Beasley recently, but the coach’s frustration hit a boil after Beasley caught a harmless pass 40 feet from the rim and took a few steps for a ridiculous traveling violation.

“My night doesn’t really matter,’’ Beasley said. “We lost bad, that’s what I think about. I do think about what I couldn’t do or what I could have done better. I’m not really knowing the answers to that until I watch film, sit down and think about it.”

The microcosm of Beasley’s good and bad occurred on another play when he bricked a jumper, raced in for the rebound, then threw a pass into the first row.

Beasley has experienced a December rejuvenation with Hornacek trusting him more and realizing he’s more “comfortable’’ playing power forward than small forward. With Porzingis expected back Thursday and Hardaway Jr. getting a clearer timetable Tuesday, it’s unclear what role Beasley will play when the club is fully healthy.

“When we can get to the point when we’re playing defense as well as we can play defense, no matter what the offensive side looks like, then we’ll start to win a lot more games on the road,’’ Beasley said.

Beasley, who started for the second straight game Monday, put up his best game by far Saturday against Carmelo Anthony scoring 30 points with four assists and five rebounds.